Genesis 3:5-15

5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[a] she took of its fruit 1and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, 2and he ate.
7 3Then the eyes of both were opened, 4and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool[b] of the day, and the man and his wife 5hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"[c]
10 And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, 6because I was naked, and I hid myself."
11 He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
12 The man said, 7"The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, 8"The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14 The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and 9dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[d] and 10her offspring; 11he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

Genesis 3:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 3

In this chapter an account is given of the temptation of our first parents, of the instrument of it, and of their fall into it, and of the effect of it, Ge 3:1-7 their summons upon it to appear before God, against whom they had sinned, Ge 3:8-10 their examination by him, and the excuses they made, Ge 3:11-13 the various sentences passed of the serpent, the woman, and the man, Ge 3:14-19 some incidental things recorded, expressive of faith and hope in man, and of favour to him, Ge 3:20,21 and his expulsion from the garden of Eden, Ge 3:22-24.

Cross References 11

  • 1. 1 Timothy 2:14
  • 2. ver. 12, 17; Hosea 6:7
  • 3. ver. 5
  • 4. Genesis 2:25
  • 5. [Psalms 139:1-12; Jeremiah 23:23, 24]
  • 6. ver. 7; Genesis 2:25
  • 7. Genesis 2:18; Job 31:33
  • 8. ver. 4; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:14
  • 9. Isaiah 65:25; Micah 7:17
  • 10. Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:3; Matthew 1:23, 25; Luke 1:34, 35; Galatians 4:4; 1 Timothy 2:15
  • 11. Romans 16:20; Hebrews 2:14; Rev. 20:1-3, 10

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Or to give insight
  • [b]. Hebrew wind
  • [c]. In Hebrew you is singular in verses 9 and 11
  • [d]. Hebrew seed; so throughout Genesis
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.